In the evening, Jiang Heng and Lucy drove the Gudla 66-type Grison towards Afterlife.
The Grison was a high-performance vehicle. While it was originally a Gudla sports car, its style differed greatly from other Gudla sports cars. The Grison was heavily armored and well-suited for navigating the rough roads of the Badlands.
However, compared to the Grison, Jiang Heng preferred the Mizuki Hayabusa - Wild Wolf.
Like the Grison, the Wild Wolf possessed the speed of a sports car but could conquer the Badlands like an off-roader.
The Wild Wolf was undoubtedly a legendary car. It had a rugged appearance, thick armor, and its horsepower and speed were only surpassed by the "Excalibur," which was known as the fastest car in Night City.
Compared to the "Lady of the Lake," which was all looks and no substance, the Wild Wolf offered far better value for money.
Unfortunately, like the Grison, the Wild Wolf's somewhat rough and tough appearance didn't seem very popular in Night City. Only the drifters who roamed the Badlands often used it.
Therefore, even after recruiting so many gang members, Jiang Heng still couldn't find a Wild Wolf.
As for genuine sports cars, Jiang Heng's top choice was the Excalibur, for two reasons: it was fast, and it looked great.
The Excalibur's appearance was undeniable, and its speed was even more exaggerated. It was dubbed the "Fastest in Night City."
However, sports cars of the Excalibur's caliber were generally in the hands of wealthy individuals. In Night City, they were only commonly seen in the City Center. They were rarely found elsewhere.
...
Tonight's Night City was bustling as usual. Various entertainment venues echoed with the sounds of laughter and chatter, harmonizing with the gunshots and sirens in the streets.
Afterlife remained Afterlife. Mercenaries who had barely survived their missions, having earned a hefty sum, returned to Afterlife, as if resurrected.
Most mercenaries in Night City were like this. They took jobs in Afterlife, spent their money in Afterlife, until one day they might die in some unknown alleyway. Their corpses, after rotting for a while, would be discovered, then dumped into the trash, burned with the garbage, or simply left in some forgotten corner.
"Yo~ Claire, good evening."
The first familiar face they encountered upon entering the bar was the bartender, Claire.
"Good evening, what will you have tonight?" Claire asked with a smile.
She enjoyed chatting with Jiang Heng. He never got drunk and acted rowdy, and he had a good sense of humor.
Jiang Heng: "I have business to discuss today. Have you seen Mann and the others?"
"There, at that booth." Claire pointed towards a booth in the corner.
"Thanks, Claire." Without delay, Jiang Heng headed towards the booth.
"You're welcome."
As they walked, Lucy whispered to Jiang Heng, "Jiang Heng, I think Claire might have a thing for you."
"Ah? Haha..." Jiang Heng couldn't help but laugh.
Seeing his reaction, Lucy asked in confusion, "What are you laughing at?"
"Ahem, sorry, I couldn't hold it in. Claire has a husband, and Claire, well..." Jiang Heng leaned in to whisper in Lucy's ear, "Claire is actually a transgender woman!"
Lucy was stunned.
In fact, not just Lucy, but probably many gamers didn't know that Claire was a transgender woman. They were all eager to have a relationship beyond friendship with her, spending countless hours scouring the internet for clues, only to discover, damn it, they were tricked!
Claire, an important NPC in the game's storyline, whose full name was Claire Russell, was originally a military technology engineer. She had a husband who was passionate about racing, and she also ran a car tuning shop.
As for being transgender, it wasn't unusual in Night City. With the world's technology, changing genders was incredibly simple.
Just like Claire, it was impossible to tell from her appearance that she was originally male. She was now a true woman, possessing all the capabilities of a woman.
It's worth noting that Claire, like Jiang Heng, was a pure, original human. She hadn't installed any cybernetic implants.
However, despite this, Jiang Heng still felt a bit uncomfortable with transgender individuals. He could be friends with them, but as for being lovers, that was a no-go.
...
Without discussing Claire any further, Jiang Heng and Lucy arrived at the booth area and quickly found Mann and the others.
"Jiang Heng, Lucy, over here!"
Mann waved to them.
Upon hearing this, Jiang Heng immediately pulled Lucy over and sat down next to the little girl, Rebeca, while Lucy sat beside him.
Instantly, Jiang Heng felt a sense of accomplishment, with a girl on each side.
After sitting down, Jiang Heng expertly grabbed one of Rebeca's ponytails.
Rebeca didn't react much, but she glanced at him and said, "Why do you always like grabbing my hair, you pervert?"
"Because twintails increase attack speed!" Jiang Heng instinctively replied.
"???" Everyone was confused.
Jiang Heng had known Mann's team for quite some time. Every time they met, he liked to tease Rebeca. In return, Rebeca tried to fight back, but she couldn't win. Even when she pulled out her gun, Jiang Heng easily subdued her.
Finally, Rebeca got tired. Forget it, play with her hair if you want!
Everyone was also accustomed to it. It was rare to find someone who could keep Rebeca in line.
ps: Thanks to Anqiu Jia Gui for the generous donation. Also, feel free to leave any suggestions. While I cannot directly reply in the comment section, I will check the comments periodically, and I will see your comments promptly.